Since 1989, an increasing number of scientists have been studying
the decline of frog and toad populations around the world. These declines
have been associated with habitat loss and fragmentation, chemical pollution,
ultraviolet radiation, acid precipitation, commercial harvest for food,
and unknown causes. Understanding frogs may help us better understand
how these problems affect humans, too. Learning about frogs is also fun
and, as this page shows, opens a door to a facinating corner of the natural
world.

Northern
Leopard FrogThis is a familiar species, often called a "grass frog."
It is found in all Minnesota counties. This large frog averages from 2 to
3 1/2 inches (5-9 cm.) in length, through the record is 4 3/8 inches. The
basic color is green or brown and there are usually two or three rows of
dark spots on the back, some large and some small. The Northern Leopard
also may have no spots at all or, less commonly, extra dark markings between
the rows of spots. It lives in a wide variety of habitats, but is usually
found in meadows and open fields near bodies of water.

CALL:
The Northern Leopard Frog song is a snoring sound, mixed with grunts and
squeaks. You can imitate their song by rubbing your wet palm across an
inflated balloon. Return to Table of Contents

Western
Chorus FrogThis is one of the earliest and most common frogs in the state,
though it is commonly more easily heard than seen. It is only 1 1/4 inches
(3.2 cm.) from tip to tail and easily recognized by its pear-shaped body.
The head is pointed, the body slender, and the rear of the body larger than
the rest. It's basic color is tan, red, green, or gray and there are three
long dark stripes on the back. It is found in moist, fish-free habitats
all over Minnesota.

CALL:
Despite their small size, the breeding chorus is very loud and is much
like the sound made by running your thumb along the teeth of a comb.Return to Table of Contents

Green
FrogThis frog measures from 2 3/8 to 3 1/2 inches (6-9 cm.) long,
but can grow as large as 4 1/4 inches. The basic body color is green to
brown. Look for an upper lip that is lighter and brighter green than the
head. This frog is easy to confuse with the mink frog, which appears later
in the season. The green frog is found over the eastern half of the state
in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and wetlands with permanent water and
emergent vegetation.

Spring
PeeperThis frog is very tiny, with a body length of only 3/4 to 1 1/4
inches (1.9-3.2 cm.). The body color may be tan or dark brown, or even gray
and has a darker "X" marking across the back. Even though they
are small, it's easy to see the toe pads on the peeper. These are the adhesive
pads that enable the frog to climb smooth, vertical objects. The spring
peeper is confined to the woodlands of eastern and northwestern Minnesota.

CALL:
The song is a high-pitched note, a peeping sound. A single frog calling
sounds like a shrill whistle, but a group calling together sounds very
much like sleigh bells.Return to Table of Contents

Mink
FrogThe mink frog measures 2 to 2 3/4 inches (5-7 cm.) in length.
The basic body color is green with dark mottling. The mink gets its name
because it smells much like its namesake. This species is found in the northern
half of Minnesota in forested areas with ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams.
You will often see this frog sitting on lily pads.

Northern
Cricket FrogThis tiny frog measures only 5/8 to 1 1/2 inches (2-3.8 cm.).
The basic body color is brown to gray, with odd-sized green blotches. Look
for a green or dark brown triangle between the eyes. Though this species
has been recorded from both the southeastern and southwestern corners of
Minnesota, it may be gone from our state. Look for this frog along muddy
shorelines beside slow streams or ponds with lots of emergent vegetation.

BullfrogThe bullfrog is the largest anuran, measuring up to 8 inches
(20.3 cm.). The basic body color is varying shades of green, and is sometimes
mottled with green or brown. This frog is native to the extreme southeastern
counties of the state but has been introduced in other areas. Permanent
bodies of water are necessary for this species, and may include lakes, rivers,
and ponds.

Wood
FrogAnother early spring frog, the wood frog measures from 2 to 2
3/4 inches (5-7 cm.) long. The presence of a "robber's mask" makes
this an easy species to identify. The body color is generally light tan
to dark brown, with a series of darker brown lines along the dorsolateral
folds (the raised bumps between the eyes and the hind legs). Found in most
of Minnesota except the southwest corner, wood frogs prefer woods and forests
and require marshes and small ponds for breeding.

Pickerel
FrogThis frog measures 1 3/4 to 3 1/4 inches (4.5-8 cm.) long. The
basic body color is tan with two rows of dark brown square-shaped spots
on the back. The groin area is bright yellow or orange. The secretions of
the pickerel's skin is toxic. This frog is found only in the southeastern
corner of Minnesota and has only been recorded in five counties. Its habitat
is the edges of small ponds, medium-sized rivers, and spring-fed streams.

CALL: The pickerel sings while submerged under water, so its song is
difficult to hear. The song is a low-pitched snoring sound.Return to Table of Contents

Gray
Tree and Cope's Gray Tree FrogBoth species are small, measuring only 1 1/4 to 2 inches (3-5
cm.), and are variable in color. They may be gray or green, depending on
temperature or location. In warm conditions when they are on vegetation,
the frogs are green. Both may have large gray blotches on the back. The
gray tree frogs are bordered with black. The skin texture is different in
the two species. The cope's is smooth and the gray's rough. Both have large
toe pads and are excellent climbers. The gray tree frog is found in woodlands
all over Minnesota except in the southwestern corner, while the cope's gray
tree frog inhabits prairie edges and oak savannas in the central third of
the state.

CALL:
The cope's song is like a fast metallic trill, while the gray's is more
melodic and slower. You can tell which species is calling by determining
its height off the ground. If the frog is calling from 10 feet or higher,
it is a gray tree frog; less than that height would be a cope's gray tree
frog.Return to Table of Contents

American
ToadThis is one of the most common toads in Minnesota. It measures
from 2 to 3 1/2 inches (5-9 cm.) long and has a squat body and short legs.
The basic body color is usually brown but may be red or even greenish. There
are white and black blotches all over its back, with one or two warts in
each of these. This toad is found all over Minnesota in prairies, woods,
coniferous forests, bogs, and even in gardens.

Great
Plains ToadThis toad (not pictured) measures from 2 to 3 1/2 inches (5-9
cm.), with a grayish brown to green body color and large dark spots that
are edged in white. This distinguishes it from the American and Canadian
toads. This prairie species is found in the western counties of Minnesota.

Canadian ToadThis toad (not pictured) measures from 2 to 3 1/2 inches (5-9
cm.), with a squat body and short legs. The basic color is brown with white
and black markings. There is a distinct raised bump between the eyes, and
this will enable you to distinguish it from other species. This toad is
confined to the northwestern corner of Minnesota, and uses a wide variety
of habitats.

CALL: The song is similar to that of an American Toad, but the length
of the trill is shorter.